Opening Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, as we come to Your Word please give us hearts that long for Christ’s Glorious Return. Help us to keep watch amid the distractions of life. And while we wait patiently, lead us to those works which will be pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture

Devotion

Our reading this morning concerns the undeniable, sudden and soon return of Christ at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. And if the day is fast approaching, how should we live? Jesus tells us in v42 – “keep watch”.

If you know when to expect someone, it is easy to be prepared. When you have a guest coming over for dinner at a certain time, you cook and clean and when the door-bell rings, you welcome them in and act like everything always looks so neat and tidy. But the longer the possible window of arrival, the harder it is to be prepared. Like when you have a 5 hour window for a delivery. Attention wanders, you get distracted, and you might just be in the shower or taking a nap when the door-bell rings. And if Jesus could return today or in a year’s time or in another 1000 years’ time, how much easier it is to get distracted with other things – with wealth or with relationships or with politics or with hedonism. But Jesus says keep watch.

Order your life now in such a way that you won’t be ashamed of when you see Him coming in the clouds. Those things in your life that you know are wrong, and that you need to change – repent of, without delay. Those things that you know you should be doing, but just can’t be bothered with yet – hurry to do them. Don’t be caught sleeping when you should have been ready. Wake up, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed! So keep watch.

Intercessory Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray for those who are trapped in the sex industry and the victims of human-trafficking, both adults and children. We pray for those who are responsible for these ungodly activities. We pray that You will convict their hearts of their sins. We pray that those who are trapped will want freedom. We pray that all of them will come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, Lord and God. We trust that after they are transformed by You, they will be a blessing to many people on earth. We pray that You will set these people free from whatever is holding them in bondage. As Your Ekklesia and in the Mighty Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we bind down the evil spirits that are holding these people in bondage, and render them powerless. Thank You Heavenly Father that You will do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.